The hit-and-run driver that killed a Ballarat cyclist on his way to work last year has admitted to the "reprehensible" offending.
Bradley John Spark was speeding while unlicensed in an unregistered vehicle when he crossed onto the wrong side of the road and hit beloved grandfather David Thomson on October 21, 2021.
The 40-year-old faced the County Court in Melbourne on Friday and pleaded guilty to dangerous driving occasioning death, failing to stop and failing to render assistance at the scene.
The court heard CCTV footage showed Spark had sped off at more than 100 kilometres per hour in a 60kph zone after hitting Mr Thomson at the intersection of LaTrobe Street and Brazenor Street in Delacombe.
Mr Thomson's son and daughter made a public plea for help to catch the offender.
Public information led police to Spark's car on October 27, 2021.
It was hidden under a tarpaulin among trees on a Ross Creek paddock and Spark was arrested later that night.
Family's suffering
Mr Thomson's son Dylan said he would never forgive Spark for choosing to drive dangerously and flee the scene, leaving his father to die on the road.
"I have lost the most important, influential person in my life," he said, reading his victim impact statement to the court.
"Every day I struggle to gather the strength to go on another day, because at the end of each day there is no strength left."
Mr Thomson worked at Eureka Concrete and had started cycling there each morning to help improve his fitness in preparation for a return to the cricket field.
His daughter Sophie came across the scene when she stopped to help colleagues on her way to work as a police officer in Ballarat.
"I attended the scene of my own father's death," she said in her victim impact statement.
"How are you able to put into words how that affects someone?
"I am unable to forget my dad lying on the road covered in a white sheet."
Mr Thomson's friends and family described him as calm, humble, generous and "one of life's true gentlemen".
They said he loved cricket and lawn bowls and donated to charities every week because he felt "fortunate" in life.
Spark remorseful
Defence barrister Christopher Carr said Spark understood he would spend a long period in prison for the suffering he had caused, but requested the judge impose a long parole period to help him rehabilitate.
He said Spark had done well on parole before the incident but spiralled out of control after his close friend committed suicide.
Mr Carr admitted his client had an "unenviable" criminal history that was linked to illicit drug use, but said Spark had pleaded guilty early and was remorseful.
Crown prosecutor Grant Hayward said Spark might have regrets now, but he showed no remorse when he sped from the scene, did not call emergency services and hid his car.
"His moral culpability is high," he said.
"It was a reprehensible thing to do."
Spark has spent more than 320 days in custody and will remain there until sentencing in November.
